12 May 2005 Edition

British must move agenda for change forward

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP speaking after meeting the new British
Secretary of State, Peter Hain, in Stormont Castle on Monday, said that the
British Government must move the agenda for change forward without delay.

"Since the breakdown of the comprehensive Agreement in December the Peace
Process has been paralysed by the politics of recrimination and blame game.
Now, with elections behind us and the new mandates we should all turn our
attention to the challenge of rebuilding the Peace Process.

"Key elements of the Good Friday Agreement do not require co-operation from
the DUP. Progress on equality, human rights, collusion, the Irish language,
demilitarisation, justice and policing are entirely within the gift of the
British Government. There is an increased onus on the British Government to
face up to the many issues within its control.

"We told the new British Secretary of state that he must now move this
agenda of change forward without further delay."

Sinn Féin MPs in London

Sinn Féin MPs Pat Doherty and Conor Murphy on Wednesday travelled to
Westminster for the opening day of the new parliamentary sitting. Although
they don't sit in the British House of Commons, the Sinn Féin MPs have used
the facilities due to them as elected MPs to deliver for their constituents
and advance the Peace Process and the United Ireland agenda.

The Sinn Féin MPs said they would be taking the opportunity to meet with a
number of other MPs and urge them to continue to support efforts in the time
ahead to see the Good Friday Agreement implemented and the promise offered
by the recent initiative by Gerry Adams delivered.